Andy Reid to QB Michael Vick: Get rid of the ball!

Nov. 6, 2012
|

New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith (91) sacks Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) for a loss during third quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. / John David Mercer, U.S. Presswire

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

PHILADELPHIA â?? Andy Reid began Tuesday by pointing at the coaching, blaming himself, as he always does.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's get to the part where he indicated some of the issues in the Philadelphia Eagles' going 0-for-5 in the red zone in Monday's 28-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints had to do with the guys on the field for the Eagles â?? the linemen, the wide receivers and quarterback Michael Vick.

"We're hit-and-miss there," Reid said at his day-after press conference. "We've had some sacks, we've had some turnovers. We've all got a little piece of this thing to make sure we tighten that up and start putting players in the right position.

"And two, if it's a blitz, make sure we get the ball out, make sure we protect it."

That was a key statement by Reid because, much as Vick was under pressure because of an offensive line that couldn't block the Saints' blitz-heavy attack, the quarterback deserves part of the blame for holding the ball too long at times.

One of those times was a second-and-goal from the Saints' 8-yard line midway through the third quarter, with the Eagles trailing 21-10. Vick handled the snap in the shotgun and took two hops instead of planting and looking to deliver the ball right away against an all-out blitz that was obviously coming.

Defensive end Will Smith was unblocked, and he sacked Vick for an 11-yard loss. Credit Vick for nearly throwing a tough touchdown pass on the next play, but it was a third-and-goal from the 19, which is why it was a difficult pass to make in the first place.

"It's not that he's not picking it up. There's going to be an extra guy and it's his responsibility to get the ball out," Reid said, referring to five blockers trying to pick up six rushers. "Or you've got to look at the receivers and make sure they're doing their part, too."

That means Vick's targets have to run their "hot routes," which only a couple seemed to do on the play mentioned above. Still, Reid seemed to be perturbed with Vick's decisions against a "zero" blitz, which means zero safety help, with man coverage across the board and everybody else rushing.

It's a staple of Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system, and since Spagnuolo is a former Eagles assistant who was also the New York Giants' defensive coordinator, Reid and his staff surely spent plenty of time preparing Vick and his targets for that look last week in practice.

"If you see zero blitz, you've got to know that one man can't be taken care of. The ball's got to come out," Reid said. "The receivers have to be aware of that, the quarterback has to be aware of it, too, and make sure they protect the inside part and give the quarterback an opportunity to throw the ball."

"Michael's our starter," Reid reiterated. "He did some good things and there were things, I'm sure he told you, that he'd like to have back."

Reid believed Vick's interception returned for a touchdown by Patrick Robinson that went from possibly giving the Eagles an early lead to suddenly putting the Saints up 7-0 was actually one of the good things.

Reid indicated there should've been a holding penalty on linebacker Jonathan Casillas, who grabbed tight end Brent Celek as he tried to come out of his break. Vick had to double-pump and, while backpedaling from pressure, threw wide of Celek, who reach out to catch the pass but tipped the ball to Robinson.

"I thought there's a fine line there and decisions that have to be made as to whether it's defensive holding or a legal play," Reid said. "They let that play go. I think the ball was in a spot where, if there wasn't the aggressive play by the defender, it's probably a touchdown."

But it wasn't. And now, Vick will face even more questions about his decision-making and his tenuous grip on his job, despite Reid's sticking with him for at least one more week.